Trump Jerusalem Speech BBC News Special

Tonight at 6:

Warnings of new unrest in the middle

east after President Trump pledges

a radical change in US policy.

He says he'll recognise Jerusalem

as Israel's capital -

that's caused anger among

Palestinians and alarmed US allies,

but Mr Trump says it's time.

many presidents have said they want

to do something and did not.

It has

drawn huge criticism around the

world.

Fury amongst Palestinians.

The US is delivering a lethal bullet

to the heart of the two state

solution.

This is the scene at the

White House. The announcement will

come in the next few minutes. We

will have all reaction from around

the world on the key decision.

Hello and welcome to viewers in the

UK joining us for this special

coverage as we wait for Donald Trump

to make the announcement to break

with decades of US policy by

recognising Jerusalem as the capital

of Israel. He is due to speak about

the highly controversial decision in

the next few minutes. He is also

expected to approve plans to move US

presidency -- Embassy to Jerusalem.

The plans have sparked protest from

global capitals and warnings that

the move will destroy any hope of

progress on peace. Live now to the

White House. It is all set up, the

podium is there, the journalists are

there to hear that key announcement

from the president. He said it was a

big decision just a few minutes ago.

So we can go to that just a while

ago, speaking at a meeting of his

cabinet. Saying the decision was

long overdue.

We have a big

announcement coming up at one

o'clock, perhaps a couple of you

will be there. It is a big

announcement concerning Israel and

the Palestinians and the Middle East

and I think it is long overdue. Many

presidents have said they want to do

something and did not do it, whether

through courage or they changed

their mind, I cannot tell you that

many people have said we have to do

something and did not do it. We will

be talking about that something at

one o'clock. I look forward to

seeing you there.

Well let's go to

Washington now and speak to Anthony

Zucker, fascinating listening to

that, suggesting that previous

presidents were not brave enough to

make this move.

Exactly, pretty

remarkable as a statement,

positioning himself as being the

bold actor once again. He ran on

this mentioned it multiple times on

the campaign trail. The idea of

recognising Jerusalem as the capital

and moving the embassy there.

Especially welcomed by

conservatives, evangelical

conservatives who see a unified

Jewish state with Jerusalem as the

capital as the fulfilment of

biblical prophecies. Also

Conservative members who want to

strengthen US ties to Israel, this

is seen as an important step. So

Donald Trump, obviously he faces

criticism from abroad but there is a

large portion of his own party who

welcome the development.

The

question is being asked though, you

mentioned the campaign trail but why

now?

I think many people suspected

or thought that he might make the

move even earlier. There is a statue

-- a statute requiring the president

to make a decision every six months

on relocating the embassy. Why

particularly now at this time, you

could speculate there is a lot of

possibly bad news going on for

Donald Trump and this could be a way

to change the discussion. As for why

now, you need to look at the

politics and say maybe he just

decides that this is fulfilling a

campaign promise and this is his

chance to do it.

And we have already

had confirmation from so many

capitals around the world, the

Reuters news agency saying that the

US State Department in a cable to US

diplomatic post have asked officials

to declare non-essential travel to

Israel until December 20.

This is a

recognition it seems that there

could be unrest sparked by this

decision. The promise of three days

of rage, demonstrations in the

Palestinian territories. Obviously

the State Department taking that

seriously. The White House, the

airline is that this move is a

reflection of the reality that

Jerusalem is already the capital of

Israel. -- there line. And this is

long overdue but also acknowledging

it is controversial and could be

repercussions.

I'm just being told

we are just about two minutes away

and you can get a sense of that

looking at these pictures. Just the

last few staff getting in their

positions, the journalists in place.

Just a few seconds away from the US

president coming into the room. And

he will break with 70 years of

foreign policy and recognised

Jerusalem as the capital of Israel

there has been condemnation from

regional leaders, also condemnation

from the US, from France in the UK,

from China. And our international

correspondent is here watching these

pictures with me. Briefly, your

thoughts before we hear this major

announcement?

There's no way to

underestimate the powerful symbolism

of what we understand President

Trump is about to announce. Not just

about a city or a land but a deeply

emotional issue. An issue that

touches on three religions who

regard Jerusalem as the holy site,

as sacred. It goes to the heart of

one of the most contentious and

emotional issues in the peace

process. And it is an issue that

will not go unnoticed and there will

be a response.

I'm just waiting now

from Reuters, President Trump said

the US remained deeply committed to

helping facilitate a peace agreement

but many commentators saying that

this move will make that so much

more difficult if not torpedo the

whole thing.

President Trump, you

heard his comments before the

programme began saying that other

presidents had maybe changed their

mind or were not brave enough, but

he is the man who wants to do the

deal.

Thank you. When I came into office I

promised to look at the challenges

of the world with open eyes and very

fresh thinking. We cannot solve our

problems by making the same failed

assumptions and repeating the same

failed strategies of the past. All

challenges demand new approaches. My

announcement today marks the

beginning of a new approach to

conflict between Israel... To

relocate the American Embassy to

Jerusalem and to recognise that that

city and so importantly, is Israel's

capital. This act passed Congress by

an overwhelming bipartisan majority.

And was reaffirmed by unanimous vote

of the Senate only six months ago.

Yet for over 20 years every previous

American president has exercised the

waiver, refusing to move the US

Embassy to Jerusalem or to recognise

Jerusalem as Israel's capital city.

Presidents issued these waivers

under the belief that delaying the

recognition of Jerusalem would

advance the cause of peace. Some say

that they lacked courage, but they

made their best judgment based on

facts as they understood them at the

time. Nevertheless the record is in.

After more than two decades of

waivers, we are no closer to a

lasting peace agreement between

Israel and the Palestinians. It

would be folly to assume that

repeating the exact same formula

would now produce a different or

better results. Therefore I'm

determined that it is time to

officially recognise Jerusalem as

the capital of Israel. While

previous presidents have made this a

major campaign promise, they have

failed to deliver. Today I am

delivering. I have judged this

course of action to be in the best

interests of the United States of

America. And the pursuit of peace

between Israel and the Palestinians.

This is a long overdue step to

advance the peace process and to

work towards a lasting agreement.

Israel is a sovereign nation with

the right like every other sovereign

nation to determine its own capital.

Acknowledging this is a fact, is a

necessary condition for achieving

peace. It was 70 years ago that the

United States under President Truman

recognised the state of Israel. Ever

since then Israel has made its

capital in the city of Jerusalem.

The capital the Jewish people

established in ancient times. Today

Jerusalem is the seat of the modern

Israeli government. It is the home

of the Israeli parliament. As well

as the Israeli Supreme Court. It is

the location of the official

residence of the Prime Minister and

the president. It is the

headquarters of many government

ministries. For decades visiting

American presidents, secretaries of

State and military leaders have met

their Israeli counterparts in

Jerusalem. As I did on my trip to

Israel earlier this year. Jerusalem

is not just the heart of three great

religions but it is now also the

heart of one of the most successful

democracies in the world. Over the

past seven decades the Israeli

people have built a country where

Jewish people, Muslims and

Christians and people of all faiths

are free to live and worship

according to their conscience and

according to their beliefs.

Jerusalem is today and must remain a

place where Jewish people pray at

the Western Wall, where Christians

walk the stations of the Cross and

where Muslims worship at the mosque.

However through all of these years

presidents of representing the

United States have declined to

officially recognised Jerusalem as

the Israeli capital. In fact we have

declined to acknowledge any Israeli

capital at all. But today we finally

acknowledge that Jerusalem is the

Israeli capital. This is nothing

more or less than a recognition of

reality. It is also the right thing

to do. It is something that has to

be done. That is why consistent with

the Jerusalem Embassy act, I'm also

directing the State Department to

begin preparation to move the

American Embassy from Tel Aviv to

Jerusalem. This will immediately

begin the process of hiring

architects, engineers and planners

so a new embassy when completed will

be a magnificent tribute to peace.

In making these announcements I also

want to make one point very clear.

This decision is not intended in any

way to reflect a departure from our

strong commitment to facilitate a

lasting peace agreement. We want an

agreement that is a great deal for

the Israelis and a great deal for

the Palestinians. We are not taking

a position of any final status

issues including the specific

boundaries of the Israeli

sovereignty in Jerusalem by the

resolution of contested borders.

Those questions are up to the

parties involved. The United States

remains deeply committed to helping

facilitate a peace agreement that is

acceptable to both sides. I intend

to do everything in my power to help

forge such an agreement. Without

question Jerusalem is one of the

most sensitive issues in those

talks. The United States would

support a two state solution if

agreed to by both sides. In the

meantime I call on all parties to

maintain the status quo at the holy

sites in Jerusalem including the

Temple Mount also known as home run

archery. Above are -- above all our

greatest hope is for peace. The

universal yearning in every human

soul. With the actions today I

reaffirm my administration's

long-standing commitment to future

of peace and security for region.

There will of course be disagreement

and dissent. Regarding this

announcement. But we are confident

that ultimately as we work through

these disagreements, we will arrive

at a piece and a place far greater

in understanding and cooperation.

This sacred city should call forth

the best inhumanity, lifting our

sites to what it is possible, not

pulling us back and down to the old

fights that have become so totally

predictable. Peace is never beyond

the grasp of those willing to reach

it. So today we call for calm, for

moderation and for the voices of

tolerance. To prevail over the

purveyors of hate. Our children

should inherit our love and not our

conflicts. I repeat, the message I

deliver at the historic and

extraordinary summit in Saudi Arabia

earlier this year, the Middle East

is a region rich with culture,

spirit and history. Its people are

brilliant, proud and diverse.

Vibrant and strong. But the

incredible future awaiting this

region is held at bay by bloodshed,

ignorance and terror. Vice President

pens will travel to the region in

the coming days to reaffirm our

commitment to work with partners

throughout the Middle East to defeat

radical -- radicalism that threatens

the hopes and dreams of future

generations. It is time for the many

who desire peace to expel the

extremists from their midst. It is

time for all civilised nations and

people to respond to disagreement

with reasoned debate and not

violence. And it is time for young

and moderate voices all across the

Middle East to claim for themselves

are bright and beautiful future. So

today let us rededicate ourselves to

a path of mutual understanding and

respect. Let us rethink old

assumptions and open our hearts and

minds to possible and possibilities

and finally I asked the leaders of

the region, political and religious,

Israeli and Palestinian, Jewish and

Christian and Muslim, to join us in

the Noble quest for a lasting peace.

Thank you. God bless you, God bless

Israel, God bless the Palestinians

and God bless the United States.

Thank you very much.

Well there it is. President Trump

making that announcement saying it

is time to officially recognised

Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

He went on to say this is a long

overdue step to advance the peace

process. He talked about at the

start about not making the same

failed approaches, using the same

failed formulas. That was his

justification for this abrupt

change, this dramatic change in US

foreign policy. He then went on in

the second half of that statement to

underline as he said at his

commitment to pushing forward and

advancing the peace process. He said

I remain deeply committed to helping

facilitate a peace agreement

acceptable both to the Australians

and the Palestinians. So there he

goes, that of comeback to our

international correspondent.

Your

headline thoughts? He said was a

recognition of reality and in some

ways that is correct. The Israelis

operate their business from

Jerusalem, the Prime Minister and

president live there, the Israeli

parliament. But everyone will focus

on the language and it will be

looked at differently from the

Israeli and Palestinian side. When

Russia recognised Jerusalem as the

capital earlier this year they said

West Jerusalem, not Jerusalem as a

whole. President Trump talked about

Jerusalem, the capital city but did

not use the Israeli words which is

eternal, undivided. The Palestinians

will seize a pub in that, the

recognition that some parts of

Jerusalem could be theirs in the

capital and President Trump careful

to say this does not presuppose any

discussions in the final status

talks about the boundaries of

Jerusalem. He did not even hint

however that the Palestinians wanted

East Jerusalem as the capital and

when he came to that mantra at the

two state solution, he did not say

that I believe in the two state

solution, he said the two state

solution if both sides agree to it.

So he stepped back from that. So for

some Israelis he may not have said

enough but for Palestinians and

Arabs he certainly said nothing that

would satisfy them. There was

nothing sweetened in for them aside

to his commitment to a process but

that will not be enough, that appeal

for calm. There was nothing in his

language that will bring about that

calm.

And in the build-up to this

announcement we have seen

condemnation from so many different

places in the world, as you go

through it and you have been looking

at all of it to the day, which were

the most significant voices that

stood out for you.

All the voices,

what will matter most is what is

happening on the ground. We will

hear from Mahmoud Abbas but we know

I think what he will say, he will

see it as a challenge to him, to his

leadership. Never mind that this is

a history of failed is making but he

knows there will be anger on the

streets and in some ways he must

respond to that. We heard from Hamas

in the Gaza Strip, calling for a day

of rage and Friday and all Arab

leaders have always tried to be

standard-bearers for the Palestinian

cause, the Palestinians will say

they've never done enough to help.

But today they are all standing up

and that includes Arabs, Turkish and

Iranian leaders and of course

European leaders as well. In saying

that this is something that will

damage the peace process. We will

have a different view from the

Israelis, President Trump is right,

all the way from President Clinton

on, they're not help the peace

process. So in some senses he is

correct that there needs to be new

thinking but this new thinking may

not be the right one.

Thank you very

much for that. Now we are going to

hear from the Palestinian president,

he said that he would make a

televised address after being from

Donald Trump and we will play that

to you when we get it. More from

Ramada Inn just a moment but first

we go to Jerusalem. Your reaction to

what we've just heard from the

American president?

This is a great

day for the state of Israel and the

region as a whole. It has been so

long that this unnatural idea of

carving of Jerusalem, which is the

eternal capital and the Jewish

eternal capital, would somehow bring

peace upon us. And President Trump

is right, by putting that aside, by

understanding and solidifying the

fact that Jerusalem is and will

always be the Israeli capital, now

we can proceed towards peace.

The

tidal wave of criticism we already

had today for the Palestinians, from

regional leaders, the EU, UK, the

Pope, does that not bother you?

Of

course it bothers us. But I would

expect leaders of the free nations

in the world, Germany, France, the

UK, to follow the United States and

recognise our capital. We recognise

brilliant as the capital of Germany

and Paris as the French capital, we

would expect they recognise our

capital that has incidentally been

that way for 3020 years now. So not

as if we are inventing a new

situation, it has always been our

capital long before London was even

in existence. We think that is the

natural way that the leaders should

go.

And do you think this move

brings peace poster or move that

further away?

In the short term

there might be some friction but in

the long term this definitely will

bring peace closer because never

could peace be predicated on

dividing Jerusalem, never will there

be peace with a wall in the middle

of Jerusalem and you cannot profit

up. In the long run this will

advance peace and the prose is that

for so many years dividing

Jerusalem, that never brought peace.

Your settlements in East Jerusalem

are seen internationally as illegal

under international law, does this

in any way in your opinion

legitimised these settlements?

We do

not have settlements in East

Jerusalem, we have Jewish

communities living in our capital.

The death we are legitimate

regardless of what the international

community thinks because I said we

live there and we our own language,

in our own homeland. But we think it

is high time capital around the

world accept Jerusalem as our

capital.

Do you still believe in a

two state solution?

We have to be

creative. President Trump talked

about new ideas, I have a new idea

of building peace bottom-up through

the economy, through trade. There

are already a two state situation,

in Gaza, and it is a failed state.

The notion of creating a second

Palestinian state I do not think

will work and we must think

creatively how Palestinians can

govern themselves. We do not want to

govern but by not creating another

100 years misery.

And we have some

new fresh ideas there. Thank you for

your time. And let me tell you that

the Israeli Prime Minister has

described that announcement from

Donald Trump as an historic

landmark. Let's speak to the

Palestinian politician who is a

member of the PLO executive

committee. Thank you so much for

being here on the programme. Your

reaction to this news?

I think this

is disastrous. It is not well

thought out, it is in direct

contradiction of the most basic

requirements of peace. It violates

international law. It shows total

bias in favour of Israel. It shows

an accommodation of illegal

annexation of Jerusalem and that

accommodation and support for

occupation and full force and

military violence. And at the same

time it says we recognise reality

but what is reality. The law should

be the basis of any recognition,

international law as well as the

imperatives of peace. What he's

doing is saying we're going to do

everything to scuttle the chances of

peace, to destroy the chances of

peace and at the same time we think

this is in the service of peace. In

this mad rush to show that is

different from other presidents he

does not stop to think about what

made the peace process fail. What

made it fail is US biased towards

Israel, Israeli impunity, the US

cover for Israeli violations and

violence against the Palestinians

and a disregard for international

law. This is why the peace process

fail.

Let me ask you another

question. He talks about not

repeating failed mistakes. In your

view that peace process or moves to

try to make progress, is that

totally torpedoed now in your mind?

Yes, I think he's just paying lip

service, he's insulting our

intelligence is talking about that.

What he is doing is encouraging

anti-peace elements, encouraging the

most extreme hard-line warmongers in

Israel. This coalition in Israel is

certainly the most hardline

government in the history of Israel

and they are systematically

destroying the chances of peace. He

has cast his lot with them and at

the same time letting go all the

people who have fought for decades

to visualise the language of

negotiation, of legality and

justice. And saying it does not

work. And this also encourages and

emboldened not just the Israeli

extremists but also extremists on

the other side of wealth.

Let me ask

you about exactly that because you

will know there are groups that have

already called for three days of

rage. As a key Palestinian leader,

what would your Corby, is that a

call that you support or would you

be urging calm as we heard from

Donald Trump a few moments ago?

That

is not the issue. He says one thing

and he does the other. He urges calm

and then promotes everyone yon

endurance. How dare you urge calm

when you're provoking sentiments and

turning history into a forgery. The

judge amassing land confiscation and

transforming Jerusalem into a

forgery. This is a Palestinian city

and as such belongs to the

Palestinians. The Palestinian

people. You cannot say I will choose

where I want my capital. I would

like to conquer England and take

over London and make it my capital,

but Israel has taken over Jerusalem

by war and annexed it illegally. It

is a Palestinian city, they do not

have the right or freedom to make

their capital.

What can you actually do about it?

In reality?

In reality, what we

should do is go to the international

community, Israel must be held

accountable, this impunity has to

stop, this total disregard of

international justice has to stop,

this American collusion, and I am

not saying all Americans, there are

many people all over the world to

understand the requirements of

peace, but obviously this president

thinks he can make his mark and his

distinctiveness by destroying the

very chance of peace and subjecting

the whole region to greater

instability, violence and feeding

extremism and terrorism. This is

absolutely a responsible position.

A

quick final thought, just a sentence

two, at the end Trump said parents

would be heading to the region if

various delegates are sent to try to

move peace -- Donald Trump said Mike

Pence would be heading to the

region. Those conversations you have

now?

Mike Pence has been talking

about God's well, not politics, he

is talking political dogma and

exegesis. My god did not tell me

what his God told him, I belong to

the oldest Christian tradition in

the world I do believe the world has

to be unjust to the Palestinians. We

are the original Christians, we are

the owners of the land, we have been

here for centuries. How dare they

come here and give me biblical

treatises and absolutist positions.

If you monster. Politics, legality,

humanity, morality, he will find

people. If he wants to tell me this

is ordained, what the Bible told me,

I think he should go pitch in a

church rather than talk politics.

The issue now is not too was coming

to visit but what the message is,

what is the policy, what is the

commitment and so far it is

extremely discouraging, extremely

disheartening and extremely

dangerous.

We will leave it there.

Thanks very much for being here. I

want to take you now to New York and

the UN to show you live pictures

there. As well as a bass who we are

expecting to hear from, we are also

expecting to hear from the Secretary

General of the UN. Cameras are all

set up because we are expecting the

Secretary General to make comments

after listening to what Donald Trump

had to say. Listening and watching

still with me is Lisa. I will hold

off there, you can see the Secretary

General mood toward the podium.

Let's cross over.

From day one, the Secretary General

of the United Nations, I have

consistently spoken out against any

Yuta

Jerusalem is a final status issues.

It must be resolved through direct

negotiations between the two

parties, on the basis of the

relevant Security Council and

assembly resolutions. Taking into

account the legitimate concerns of

both the Palestinian and Israeli

sides will stop I understand the

deep attachment that Jerusalem holds

in the hearts of so many people. It

has been the sofa centuries, it will

always be. -- it has been so for

centuries. I want to make it clear,

there is no alternative to the two

state solution. There is no plan B.

It is only by realising the vision

of two states, living side by side

in peace, security and mutual

recognition, with Jerusalem as the

capital of Israel and Palestine, and

all final status issues resolved

permanently, so negotiations that

leaves legitimate aspirations of

life pupils will achieved. --

legitimate aspirations of both

peoples. I will do everything in my

power to support the Israeli and

Palestinian leaders to return to

meaningful negotiations and to

realise this vision of a lasting

peace for both peoples. Thank you.

Every statement from the Secretary

General but he could not be any

clearer, he said Jerusalem is a

final status issues, he said from

day one when he took office he urged

against unilateral moves, said there

is no alternative to a two state

solution, no plan B. Listening with

me here, our correspondent. Respond

to that, first of all. Pretty clear

and to the point.

And perfectly

timed, just when the world is trying

to make sense of this historic

announcement by President Trump we

have the head of the world's most

important for the spelling out for

us what is the recognised

international position. Jerusalem is

a final status issue, in other words

it's not up for one country or

another to make the final decision

about the ownership of Jerusalem.

Interestingly, he talks to that

sense of attachment, he uses the

word anxiety. At this moment of

anxiety, underlining again that

there is no alternative to a two

state solution. Compare that to

come's words. A two state solution

if both sides agree. We have two

very different perspectives tonight,

and they matter. Deeply. The last

two adjectives used, disheartening

and dangerous. You could use those

same words when he spoke, both sides

feel such a deep attachment to

Jerusalem.

Did what we hear from the

Secretary General pick straightaway

what we heard from the president, he

took them at a recognition of

reality, specific boundaries, the

city would remain status to the

final status agreement. Don't answer

that because the Israeli Prime

Minister is just speaking now. Let's

hear what he has to say...

To touch its golden stones, to walk

its hallowed streets. It is rare to

be able to speak of new engineering

milestones in the glorious history

of this city. In today's

pronouncement by President Trump, it

is such an occasion. We are

profoundly grateful for the

president for his courageous and

just decision, to recognise

Jerusalem is the capital of Israel,

and to prepare for the opening of

the US Embassy here. This decision

reflects the President's commitment

to an agent but enduring truth. To

fulfilling his promises, and to

advancing peace. The President's

decision is an important step

towards peace. For there is no peace

that does not include Jerusalem as

the capital of the state of Israel.

I call on all countries that seek

peace to join the United States in

recognising Jerusalem as is real's

capital, and to move their embassies

here. I share President Trump's

commitment to advancing peace

between Israel and all our

neighbours, including the

Palestinians. This has been our goal

since our first day, and we will

continue to work with the president

and his team to make that dream of

peace come true. I also want to make

clear there will be no change

whatsoever to the status quo at the

holy sites. Israel will always

ensure freedom of worship for dues,

Christians and Muslims alike.

President Trump, thank you for

today's historic decision, to

recognise Israel as -- to recognise

Jerusalem as Israel's capital. The

Jewish state and the Jewish people

will be forever grateful.

That was Israel's Prime Minister

describing this as a historic day.

Your thoughts on what the Secretary

General was saying and what the

Israeli Prime Minister was saying?

The Secretary General of the United

Nations spoke with a broad

international community, against the

backdrop of decades of UN

resolutions, decades of peacemaking,

failed peacemaking that peacemaking

nonetheless, where Jerusalem is one

of the most, if not the most

emotional issue in the final status

issues that have to be resolved.

Prime Minister Netanyahu spoke as

the leader of the state of Israel,

and expressed his profound gratitude

for himself and from the people of

Israel. Very grateful, he said.

Those are the two realities tonight.

But there is more than one side.

He's has to be made between two

pupils. One side feels very

aggrieved and angry tonight, another

feels grateful. That's not fertile

terrain to try to move forward.

As a

backdrop, thank you. Once again,

it's only about half analysis we

heard from Donald Trump, making the

announcement. Such a stark move from

traditional US foreign policy. Let's

play again for you, in case you

missed it earlier, what the

president has just announced at the

White House.

In 1995, Congress adopted the

Jerusalem Embassy act. Urging the

federal government to relocate the

American Embassy to Jerusalem, and

to recognise that the city, and so

importantly, is Israel's capital.

This act passed Congress by an

overwhelming bipartisan majority,

and was reaffirmed by unanimous vote

of the Senate, only six months ago.

Yet for over 20 years, every

previous American president has

exercised the laws waver, refusing

to move the US Embassy to Jerusalem,

or to recognise Jerusalem as

Israel's capital city. Residents

issued these waivers under the

belief that delaying the recognition

of Jerusalem would advance the cause

of peace. Some say they lacked

courage, but they made their best

judgment. Based on facts, as they

understood them at the time.

Nevertheless, the record is in.

After more than two decades of

waivers, we are now closer to a

lasting peace agreement between

Israel and the Palestinians. It

would be folly to assume that

repeating the exact same formula

would now produce a different for

better result. Therefore, I have

determined that it is time to

officially recognise Jerusalem as

the capital of Israel. While

previous presidents have made this a

major campaign promise, they failed

to deliver. Today, I am delivering.

I have judged this course of action

to be in the best interests of the

United States of America, and the

pursuit of peace between Israel and

the Palestinians. This is a long

overdue step to advance the peace

process and to work towards a

lasting agreement.

That was the US

president in the last half an hour.

More reaction, and Emmanuel Macron

has said this decision is

regrettable, and France does not

approve of and goes against

international law, and all the

resolutions of UN security council.

He has just said that to reporters

in Paris. Turkey's Foreign Minister

has described the move from the

American president as irresponsible.

Let's go to the White House and

Barbara Platt usher who was there

for us. Listening there to the

president described why he is making

this move, what is in it for Donald

Trump?

Well, I think the key line of

that speech was previous presidents

failed to deliver on campaign

promises, I am delivering. I think

that is what this is all about, he

had promised during his campaign to

his pro-Israel voters that he would

move on Embassy to Jerusalem and he

would recognise Jerusalem as the

capital, and now he's doing it. It

was notable how many times he said

during a speech that other

presidents had also made that

promise but they never did it. But

he was doing it. That is the main

impetus here. He also went to some

lengths to say this did not mean

that the US on-the-job

administration was departing from

the peace process, all from its

plans to mediate the peace deal. He

went on at some length about how the

US was deeply committed to that, and

he made a point of saying that the

final status of Jerusalem is not

affected by this announcement. The

US was not taking any position on

that. And that it would accept a two

state solution if that's what both

sides wanted. He made that very

clear. Then he said this could even

advance the peace process, though

frankly he did not say how it could,

other than that recognising Israel

had sovereignty on the right to

choose its capital was a necessary

step. Then Prime Minister Netanyahu

chimed in to say there is no peace

that doesn't include Jerusalem as

the capital of the state of Israel.

The reaction that has come that you

were quoting there is quite

predictable, because the concern of

critics, which involves most if not

all of the US allies, is that the

fact of doing this, making this

statement, is disruptive enough to

the peace process, never mind how

the presidents couched it.

That move

of the US embassy as well, that has

been announced, but how likely is

that to take?

US officials have said

it is years, not months, and it will

take at least three or four years

because they are planning to build a

new building. That has to meet

security requirements uncertain if

you are moving a US embassy to

Jerusalem that will have to meet

security requirements, so what Mr

Trump talked about was action, there

were going to start hiring engineers

and architects in that sort of

thing. He wants to make sure he

gives the message that movement is

going to happen. In actual fact, you

probably won't see much change on

the ground for a while. The

administration officials are banking

on that for this too may blow over,

there will be, they were expecting

opposition, but if no building an

actual change on the ground happens

for while, perhaps things will

settle down. There is not actually a

peace plan to produce at this

moment. It would have made more

sense, many here in Washington feel,

if Trump had made this announcement

as part of a peace plan but he did

not. There is not want to present,

so if the Palestinians say, that's

it, we're not taking part, there is

nothing for them to drop out of.

Perhaps the peace plan comes they

will have changed their minds. That

is part of the calculation as well.

It is a pretty classic trumped

political move, how much support do

you think there was saved, in the

State Department for this?

Not very

much, I don't think. It was the

state department responsible for

staffing, maintaining and securing

the emphases. We understand that the

Secretary of State and officials

within the Department express their

opposition to this move largely on

security grounds because they were

concerned, as others have expressed,

that this would trigger a backlash.

They of course responsible for

protecting US citizens and

diplomats, and that was a concern to

them. In the State Department, they

had contacts and dealings on the

peace process for many years, who

are acutely aware of just how

sensitive issue this is. There was

opposition from that department.

Stay there, I will be back to you in

a moment or two, I just want to

update viewers because reactions

coming in all of the time since we

have had that announcement. Hamas

has just been speaking, and saying

that Donald Trump's decision to

recognise Jerusalem as Israel's

capital would open the gates of hell

on US interests in the region,

making that announcement, calling on

Arab and Islamic states to cut off

economic and political ties with the

US embassy and expel American

ambassadors to cripple this

decision. Those on their quotes, in

keeping with what you would expect

from Hamas. You have a sense of it

towards the end of Donald Trump's

speech, where he was urging calm. He

knew there would be a backlash.

He

knew there would be, and we heard

from the education minister of

Israel who said they expect

friction, was the word used in the

short-term, but that he hoped in the

long term this would move the region

closer to peace. Tonight a lot of

people are expressing doubt about

that, that it moves even further

away. There is no peace process,

just this idea that President

Trump's team including his

son-in-law Jared Kushner and the

prominent real estate lawyer are

making progress. We are hearing from

Palestinians and Jordanians that

they felt there were some slow

progress, that Trump was listening,

they knew it would be a slow process

but I thought at least there was an

effort to try to listen to all

sides. -- they thought. Announcing

today that Jerusalem is the capital

of Israel, that the embassy will be

moving to Jerusalem, will be seen by

the Palestinians, Arabs and allies

of the US, that President Trump is

only listening to one side. You

cannot be seen as the peacemaker if

you are not listening to all sides.

Since we heard from the president,

it's worth re-capping, because it is

difficult to exaggerate the

significance of what he has just

announced.

We have to keep reminding

ourselves, Jerusalem is not just a

city, it's not a piece of land, this

is not just an embassy building.

Jerusalem is invested with so much

significance, sacred significance,

not just to the three faiths who

have sites holy to their faith in

Jerusalem, in the old city, it is an

emotional issue for many people, it

has resonated through the centuries,

down through history, it touches the

heart and is at the heart of so many

of the world's issues. It is why you

have the Pope also speaking today.

Jerusalem symbolises so much and

many people want to see Jerusalem

this eternal city which brings

people together, but tonight it is

being seen as a city which is people

apart.

Bringing it back to the White

House, when we were talking earlier

with a various contributors to the

programme, people have tried to make

the point that perhaps Donald Trump

will change his mind, that is most

unlikely given what we have seen

with this announcement, isn't it?

Well, he has recognised Israel,

Jerusalem, as the capital of Israel,

that in itself is a significant

decision. Whether the embassy gets

moved there or not, that is maybe

just as disturbing to the

Palestinians and Arab leaders as if

there was a transfer or a building

being made. He has basically said

that the US has overturned decades

of policy, and in the view of the

Palestinians, taken at unbalanced

approach to their holy city for

territorial sovereignty over part of

it. Even if the embassy is not

moved, and that will take a couple

of years, there will not be much

action on the ground, and it may not

happen perhaps, but he has made this

declaration and come out with a

statement that recognises Jerusalem

as the capital for Israel, and that

in itself is enough of a provocation

or disappointment to the Arabs and

Palestinians, even if the building

does not happen. I should say, US

officials were saying yesterday that

once the process starts, once the

building starts to be constructive,

it continues. It is not as if they

get things going in a concrete way,

then. At some point, usually

buildings do get completed.

Thanks

once again. More reaction from the

Egyptians, their Foreign Ministry

rejecting the US decision to move

the embassy to Jerusalem. Israel's

Prime Minister has been speaking in

the last little while. Let's remind

you of what he said.

We are profoundly grateful for the

president for his courageous and

just decision to recognise Jerusalem

as the capital of Israel. And to

prepare for the opening of the US

Embassy here. This decision reflects

the President's commitment to an

ancient but enduring truth, to

fulfilling his promises and to

advancing peace. The President's

decision is an important step

towards peace. There is no peace

that does not include Jerusalem as

the capital of the state of Israel.

There was Benjamin Netanyahu. In

terms of the reaction, obvious

delight there from Israel's Prime

Minister, but you mentioned before,

the two state solution, and at

different stages in the last 11

months the Donald Trump, he has not

been behind that, he was asked and

pushed on that, and recoiled. Today

we heard the words he used, how

committed do you think the Americans

after that?

People may remember that

when Donald Trump the candidate

started campaigning, people noticed

that when he first started

campaigning he seemed measured, he

spoke about Israeli interests and

aspirations, Palestinian interests

and aspirations, then within a short

time he's started talking about

commitment to Israel as the most

important partner to the US,

strategic ally, defending the rights

of Israelis, and he started tilting

more towards, let's say, attachment

to Israel and the use of what should

happen for the peace process. What

we've been hearing senses become

president is that he has not really

come out and given his own personal

commitment of his administration to

a two state solution. It has to be

said, it is more than 20 years now

since the Oslo peace process which

was very much enshrining the idea of

a two state solution, which has led

some Palestinians to even say it's

not going to work, let's look at a

one state solution. There are

different ideas being talked about,

but as Antonio Cotan is reminded all

of us tonight, and there are many

who say really the only alternative,

the only just alternative is a two

state solution. A state for the

Palestinians, side by side, to use

the language, side by side living in

peace and security and Israeli

state. Some watching what happened

today might think, given Trump sees

himself as the ultimate deal-maker,

why was this not done as part of a

deal? Saying, but I have also agreed

with the Israelis they will do this

or that, there has been an agreement

that this will happen. Barbara

suggested they want to keep the

peace process separates the

Palestinians could not pull out of

it. There could be something given

to both sides to make it a more

measured response, if you like.

Given all of what you have just

said, a final thought as to where

you think we are this evening after

that major announcement.

One thing

bears mentioning, this is like the

Iran deal, something the president

had to give a decision on, had to

give a waiver, in times of the Iran

deal every quarter he had to say

around was complying with this

waiver, and it was irritating him

for every time. It was the same with

the waiver on moving the embassy to

Jerusalem, a get irritating him that

he had to give the wave every time

alike Presidents before him. Tonight

he has said he wants to bring about

the deal but in capitals around the

world tonight, I think that

deal-making is now in doubt.

Thanks

for that and for being with me for

this special coverage. We close with

those pictures from the White House

is Donald Trump signed the paperwork

after making that announcement. It

is time to officially recognise

Jerusalem, he said, as the capital

of Israel.